Prove the identity

Tan²x - sec²x + 2 = cosec²x - cot²x

1 answer

To prove the identity:

Tan²x - sec²x + 2 = cosec²x - cot²x

We will start by expanding and simplifying each side of the equation separately:

On the left side, we have:

Tan²x - sec²x + 2
= (sin²x / cos²x) - (1 / cos²x) + 2 [Using the definitions of tangent (Tanx) and secant (secx)]
= (sin²x - 1 + 2cos²x) / cos²x [Finding the common denominator and combining the terms]
= (sin²x + 2cos²x - 1) / cos²x [Rearranging the terms]

On the right side, we have:

Cosec²x - cot²x
= (1 / sin²x) - (cos²x / sin²x) [Using the definitions of cosecant (cosecx) and cotangent (cotx)]
= (1 - cos²x) / sin²x [Finding the common denominator and combining the terms]
= (sin²x) / sin²x [Using the Pythagorean identity: sin²x + cos²x = 1]
= 1 [Simplifying]

Therefore, we have:

(sin²x + 2cos²x - 1) / cos²x = 1

Now, let's simplify the expression further:

(sin²x + 2cos²x - 1) = cos²x

Using the Pythagorean identity: sin²x = 1 - cos²x, we can substitute it into the equation:

(1 - cos²x + 2cos²x - 1) = cos²x
cos²x + cos²x - 1 = cos²x
2cos²x - 1 = cos²x
2cos²x - cos²x = 1
cos²x = 1

Since cosine (cosx) is always between -1 and 1, the only possible value for cos²x to equal 1 is when cosx = ±1. Therefore, the original equation holds true for all values of x where cosx = ±1.

Thus, the identity is proved for all values of x where cosx = ±1.